Chapter 26: Don't Drink The Wine!

"Thank you for taking care of me, old man." Rohan bowed his head to Dexter in gratitude for saving his life and nurturing him back to health.

The two stood in the middle of a junction that connects to three paths with a sign sitting in the middle that depicts pictures of two arrows pointing in different directions with words in it.

"Huhuhu, take care of yourself, the path you choose to take will not be an easy one."

Cawww! Sheba cries as it lands on Rohan's shoulders with Rohan petting the bird.

"Haha, I'm gonna miss you too Sheba."

Rohan waves at the duo as they took off in the path that reads "Black seed" while he sets off towards the path leading to Retina.

"Ahh! this wine is divine," Conroy comments as he chugs down his cup of wine.

They all drank and enjoyed the wine that was served to them by Paris's attendant.

"I have traveled far and wide and have tasted different wines. But this, This tastes like heaven!" Pale declares as he received another serving and chugs it down as well.

"Phew, finally we are getting the kind treatment we deserve for all our struggles so far." Rex crossed his legs as he laid down on the ground with his hand acting as a support for his head.

"Hihihi, it is nice to unwind a bit."

"You mean, all the chaos is a regular thing for you guys?"

Max and Maggie have not taken a sip from their cup. Ace simply placed his cup on a desk.

"I only drink when the mission at hand is accomplished, but you guys should enjoy yourselves."

Maggie on the other hand refused to drink and kept the reasons to herself.

"If I so much as take a sip of any intoxicant, it'll be chaotic." That was all she said as she sits and watches the trio as they "enjoy themselves" as Max said.

Paris stood up and approached the crew.

"We may begin the final trial!" He struck his rod on the floor and all the wine and cups disappeared.

"Hey!"

"What do you that for!"

"I haven't had enough, just one more."

He ignored the outburst of the trio and walked over to Max and Maggie.

"Only you two may answer the questions."

"What! I thought this was a group thing."

"It is, but you two did not drink the wine offered for your reasons and hence have met the qualifications to partake in the final trial."

Max gave Paris a suspicious look.

"What if we had all taken the wine?"

"Then you all would have forfeited your rights to answer the question and thus failed the trial."

Paris spoke in his usual calm demeanor, not caring as to what the others were saying behind his back.

"For those of you who think that this revelation was unjust, I say you recall the First rule of the zodiac crypts."

He wiggles his finger at the enraged and drunk trio.

"Nothing is free."

His declaration didn't make things better as this was their first time learning of this.

"The fuck do you think we're supposed to know that if you didn't tell us."

Paris, for the first time, had a smirk on his face.

"You are not."

He made his way back to his throne gesturing for Max and Maggie to follow behind to answer his question.

"Are you two ready?"

"Sure, I guess."

Max on the other hand had something else in mind.

"Hey, Paris. After this, fight me."

Everyone else in the room except for Max, Pale, Paris, and the boy plopped to the ground.

"Demon spawn! are you nuts!?"

"With all due respect sir, Max... Are you nuts!?"

The twelve zodiac keepers, powerful beings that are on a completely different scale from relic beasts.

Paris is one of the twelve strongest Relimen (Relic-Men) and Max just at out challenged him.

"I know when I'm in over my head, so what say we make a bargain?"

Paris's response shocked everyone in the room.

He bursts into laughter, a peal of almost uncontrollable laughter as he manages to get back to the throne and compose himself.

"I'm listening."

"Three hits. If I manage to land three hits on you in less than five minutes, then you have to bow down and apologize for tricking us."

"Wait, all this was about the wine?"

Max was a straightforward person. As such, he developed the attitude of getting upset whenever someone tries to trick him or in this case his team.

He did not like the fact that Paris could have told them about the rule before offering them the wine but chose to play with the lot and almost cost them their chance at completing the trial after coming this far.

"Hahaha, very well human. you intrigue me the further you stay here. I shall accept your challenge in two conditions."

The room was dead silent as the tension rose while everyone was waiting for Paris to continue.

"First, of course, you have to pass the trial. Second, if you fail, you will stay here forever."

"You've got yourself a deal."

Paris struck his rod on the floor and a blue spectral force field emerged and engulfed them.

"Now, nobody can interfere."

"Tsk, are all crypts going to be like this?"

Rex asked no one in particular as he slammed his hands against the force field.

"I certainly hope not. Although I'm afraid of the actions sir Max will take."

Max is just as unpredictable as he is impulsive. Evident with how he just challenged a keeper of a zodiac crypt.

"At this point, there's nothing we can do but watch."

Pale sat down with his arms folded as he stares blankly at Max and Maggie.

There was no point complaining now and it wasn't like he was worried about Max in any way. Just like the others, he has a strong sense of respect for their captain.

He might be impulsive, but he has never let them down before.

"If you two are ready, shall we proceed?"

Max and Maggie looked at each other and shared a brief moment of understanding as they turned to face Paris.

"What's the question?"

Paris gestured for the young boy that served the wine to come over to his side.

"You just need to answer a simple question..."

He paused for a bit and continued.

"This boy right here, what's his name?"